Engagement Edge: The Science & Practice of Political Involvement

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**Engagement Edge: The Science & Practice of Political Involvement**

Keeping your advocates and PAC contributors engaged and motivated isn’t easy. Join national PAC and grassroots influence expert, author, and consultant, Amy Showalter, as she shares evidence-based best practices for improving your grassroots and PAC productivity and results.

Latest Episodes:

Beyond the Great Idea in the Shower - For Your Elevation - Insights for Clients Feb 27, 2023

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Beyond the Great Idea in the Shower - For Your Elevation - Insights for Clients of The Showalter Group

May 2022 RBRL Advocacy Research May 19, 2022

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The problem with elementary benchmarking research is that it does not compare successful advocacy campaigns and unsuccessful ones. I read with a combination of intrigue and amusement a recent article about the best mediums for advocacy communications. Before you start lighting torches and hoisting your pitchforks en route to my office, I do believe that having benchmarks is useful, but who determines if the benchmark represents successful persuasion? As you can imagine, I have an opinion. Listen here.

What’s Your SOS? (Strength of Story) Feb 27, 2022

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Why You Need to Think Like a Hollywood Mogul for Attention, Persuasion and Action

The Parity Influence Dynamic: Assessing and Addressing a Lawmaker’s IQ Sep 28, 2021

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Do you know the IQ (Influence Quotient) of your priority legislators, particularly those who will be meeting with your advocates?

In our second biennial GRIP® (Grassroots Influence Pulse) research, my colleague, Dr. Kelton Rhoads, had an insight that was superb, true, and vital for advocacy professionals and those they serve. One of the questions we asked was whether the organization’s relationships with elected officials was better or worse than the previous year. A majority responded that they were having better relationships, although they would also cite that legislators were less accessible, so I’m not sure how that squares, but they felt that the relationships were getting better. They also reported that legislators were voting in favor with their issues less frequently than in the past.

One of the reasons our advocate training is advanced training, is because we live in Realville. We teach advocates that the lawmaker constituent conversation is a two way influence street. It’s not a simple exercise where you fill the legislator’s empty brain (although I’m sure that is true at times) with information and they make a decision based on the volume of identical information they receive. We may wish it was that easy, but it’s not.

Upskilling Your Grassroots Advocates for More Virtual Advocacy Jun 29, 2021

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During a recent CEO Update event, a group of prominent association CEO's agreed that one advocacy outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic is that associations need to, "upskill, reskill and future-proof", the skills of their advocates. I was delighted to hear that, because we are not content for our clients to 'do the advocacy limbo', instead of raising the advocacy bar. My research for The Underdog Edge uncovered over 50 skills advocates who change a lawmaker's mind utilize...which one is particularly relevant in the virtual advocacy environment? To find out, listen in.

New Amyism #87: Are You Using Volume Metrics or Value Metrics? May 21, 2021

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As I think more about the challenges advocacy and PAC professionals have with establishing proper program metrics, I realized that they cannot be solved with the same level of thinking that created the elementary, volume-oriented metrics commonly used. So, presto! A new Amyism.

The Story Behind the Story: Amyism #86 Apr 29, 2021

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“Despite declarations to the contrary, no dramatic PAC or advocacy program transformation happens with one tactic. When building an influential advocacy program or large PAC, there is no single event, no grand video, no solitary viral tweet, no “killer app,” no single meeting that transforms your program. Rather, it occurs through consistent thinking, testing and honest evaluation. That consistency produces momentum that leads to transformation.”

The Story Behind the Story – Amyism #63 on PAC Objections Feb 25, 2021

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Amyism #63 - PAC Objections

“There are no new PAC objections known to mankind. The crime is not in the objection, but in us not being prepared to welcome, validate, and have a dialogue about them...and to remember that we are answering a person, not a question."

Your 2021 Resolutions – Stop Acquiring Advocates & Exile These Words and Phrases of 2020 Dec 28, 2020

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Our year-end issue intentionally does not include any reflections or “lessons learned” from 2020, as you are probably reading enough of those missives, and I trust you have had enough time to reflect and learn from the many adjustments 2020 handed to us. I do wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season, however it may look for you this year.

Why Busting Your Bias Will Improve your Advocacy & PAC Engagement Oct 21, 2020

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Since we are all inundated with electoral politics right now, I am intentionally sharing with you non-electoral politics information! I believe it will help you make better decisions as you consider tactics for your next influence campaign, as well as for your internal advocacy and PAC engagement.